MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: New RIC get straight to work

Swapping the British summer for the Falklands winter, the Riflemen enjoy an early taste of things to come

THE new Roulement Infantry Company (RIC) in the Falklands is B Company of 3rd Battalion the Rifles, based in Edinburgh and partof 11 Light Brigade. The Commanding Officer, Major James Richardson, has a close personal affiliation with the Falkland Islands.

His father, Lieutenant Commander Edward Richards served on HMS Fearlessduring the 1982 conflict. Maj Richardson said: "The RIC deployment is an excellent opportunity for the company group to prove itself in another operational environment whilst enhancing its training levels and developing its ability to operate with our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force counterparts. "On a personal note I am fascinated to come to the Islands having heard so much about them from my father who was here in 1982." Maj Richardson is not the only member of the RIC with personal connections to the Islands, however - his training officer, Captain Simon Clarke, also has paternal links. Capt Clarke's father, Maurice Clarke, is a civil engineer who lived for a short while in Stanley while he was employed in the construction and rebuilding of roads around Stanley in late 1982 and early 1983. Capt Clarke said: "I have heard my father talk frequently of his time in the Falklands and have always had a curiosity to see the Islands and meet the people, who were always described to me as great characters; I even based my university dissertation on the Falklands!" He continued: "We will be doing a fair bit of patrolling, and I am particularly looking forward to getting out onto the ground with the Riflemen and experiencing first hand the unique environment and conditions. "Several of my friends are with 1st Battalion the Rifles and had the prestigious duty of deploying as the RIC during the Falklands 25 celebrations last year, so it is nice for us on many levels to be able to continue our association with the Islands. Penguin News